Tuesday, August 21, 2007

A harf; used when you are looking back at events. It is also used for hypothetical statements. ل indicates the start of the second phrase

Example:

لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ Had We sent down this Qur'an on a mountain, verily, thou wouldst have seen it humble itself and cleave asunder for fear of Allah.Al-Hashr [59:21]

إِن

A harf; used for connecting two future events. For instance, 'if something happens, something will happen'. If إِن enter on a ماضى (past) verb, then the meaning of the verb changes to present.

انْ جَاءك زيدٌhere the verb - جَاء - is a ماضى (past) verb, but the translation is, if Zaid comes to you. The verb has changed to مضارى(present)If it enters on a مضارى(present)verb, then the meaning is restricted to مستقبل (future)

Example:

وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَاAnd if you doubt any part of what We have, bestowed from on high, step by step, upon Our servant [Muhammad]......2:23

Thursday, August 9, 2007

فMeaning: then, and then, and so, so, but, thus, however, because, so that, and so

فانَّ: for, because

This is a common conjunction that occurs over and over again in the Qur'an, which implies a close connection between sentences before and after it. This connection may be either definite cause and effect or a natural sequence of event.

Natural sequence:الَّذِي خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىWho hath created and then proportioned [87:2]

وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا And a soul and Him who perfected it. And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it [91:7-8]

Junction of two phrases following the particle denoting the result of a condition in the other:قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِيSay: If you love Allah follow me [3:31]

فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُواْ وَلَن تَفْعَلُواْ فَاتَّقُواْ النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينAnd if you cannot do it-and most certainly you cannot do it-then be conscious of the fire whose fuel is human beings and stones which awaits all who deny the truth! [2:24]

Friday, August 3, 2007

Translations or interpretations are not considered to be the Qur'an itself

The Qur'an explicitly declares itself an Arabic recital 11 times

The unanimously agreed upon aspect of the Qur'anic miracle is its language.

Concentration in prayer is contingent upon the understanding of recitation.

Sahabah on the subject of Arabic

Abu Bakr:"I'd rather forget a portion of Qur'an than make a grammatical mistake."

Umer:"Learn Arabic as it increases your dignity"

"Learn Arabic as it is from your way of life. Learn your religious obligations as they also are from your way of life"

"Develop a grammatically sound understanding of the Qur'an, for no doubt it is meant to be in Arabic"

"No one should be teaching the Qur'an except the one who knows the language well."

Ibn Abi Ka'b:"Teach your children Arabic like you teach them to memorize Qur'an"

Sha'bi:"Learn Arabic as it enhances intellectual capacity"

Ibn Abbas: "The wishful thinking imposed on the Book in regards to the Sons of Israel mentioned in Al Baqarah actually refers to the fact they knew their Book only in terms of recitation and memorization, not knowing what truly lies therein"

Scholarly Points of Views

Al Suyooti:"There is no possibility of a path leading to knowledge of the Qur'an and to a valid inquiry to its meanings except by one diving deep into this language first"

Ibn Taymiyyah:"It is no secret that the Arabic language is the symbol of Islam and its people"

"On account of the fact that Allah sent His book in the Arabic language, chose its communicator to be an Arab who expounded on its teachings in Arabic, and chose from the Arab people the generation of role models, there remain no alternatives to a deep study of Arabic if a strong grasp, rather even a familiarity of this way of life is sought after."

"The Arabic language is a component of this way of life and its awareness is a binding obligation"

Al Shafi'i:

"It is absolutely mandatory on every Muslim to study the Arabic language to the utmost of his ability. Thereafter whatever he pursues of Islamic knowledge will actually be of significant benefit"

"I spent twenty years in the study of Arabic literature intending nothing from it but assistance in acquiring a truly grounded understanding of Islam"